Bus Accident Lawyer in San Jose

For a Free Case Consultation, Call Us at (408) 883-3863

Traffic accidents can result in
catastrophic injuries for those involved. When a crash involves a bus, however, more than one
or two people are injured. Some bus crashes result in serious injury for
10 or more people. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration,
approximately 24,000 people were injured in bus accidents in a single
year. In California alone, it was estimated that 39 people died in bus
accidents. If you were injured in a bus accident, or you lost a loved
one in a fatal accident, you could be entitled to compensation.

Since 1966, the team at Shea & Shea has been standing up for the rights
of the injured. We are members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum®
and are dedicated to securing the maximum amount of compensation for what
our clients have been through. We were honored to be AV® rated by
Martindale-Hubbell®, and Attorney Shea has been certified as a specialist
by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Don’t wait to find out
how our firm can assist you with your case.

Shea & Shea has handled large bus crash cases. In the past, we were
involved in a Greyhound bus accident case involving 10 fatalities and
many severely injured people (see above).

Who is Liable for a Bus Accident?

Bus accidents can be more serious because of the large number of people
who are on board these vehicles. From charter buses to private buses to
public transportation, buses are a part of day-to-day life in San Jose.
So what are the causes of these types of accidents? One cause of bus accidents
that is all too common is bus driver fatigue. Bus drivers are behind the
wheel for hours every day and can become used to the route they travel.
A study done by the Center for Disease Control & Prevention stated
that many bus drivers have admitted to falling asleep at the wheel.

If a bus driver is driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs,
it becomes an even more serious situation. Bus drivers carry a commercial
driver's license in order to be qualified to drive passengers. The
rules regarding DUI for commercial driver's license holders are stricter
because so much more is at stake. For normal cases, the blood alcohol
content for drivers cannot be at 0.08% or higher. For commercial driver's
license holders, the limit is at 0.04%. If they are found to violate this
law, they could have their license revoked, and thus their ability to
perform their job.

Another consideration is the guidelines which have been put in place by
the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. There are rules in place
to determine how many hours an individual is allowed to drive before taking
a break. They have to keep track of these hours to ensure they do not
become fatigued. A violation of these federal regulations could result
in a personal injury lawsuit being filed against the bus driver or their employer.

Injuries Resulting from Bus Accidents

Most buses do not come equipped with seat belts, and victims of bus accidents
often suffer from catastrophic injuries. These can range from burn injuries
to spinal cord injuries to
brain damage. Burn injuries are one of the most painful types of injuries you could
suffer. They range from superficial burns (first degree burns) to full
thickness burns (third degree burns) and can lead to serious complications.
The skin is the body's first line of defense against infection and
when this defense is compromised, the individual could be exposed to a
number of different diseases.

Another possible injury that could occur is a
spinal cord injury. The force of the accident could cause bones and tissue to become damaged.
There are two main types of spinal cord injuries: complete and incomplete.
A complete spinal cord injury means that the person has lost all ability
to move and feel. An incomplete spinal cord injury means that they have
a reduced ability to move and feel. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is
caused when by an outside force to the head. The extent of a brain injury
will vary, but could affect the physical, emotional, and cognitive part
of the brain.

Victims could have to take time off of work in order to recover as well
as pay thousands of dollars for medical care. If the accident was not
their fault, they should have to pay for the consequences of the accident.

Consult a San Jose Bus Accident Attorney Today

Act quickly in order to build a strong case for compensation. Our San Jose
personal injury lawyers will move quickly to investigate your case, gather
evidence, and fight relentlessly for a settlement or trial verdict that
covers the full amount of your damages. We focus heavily on catastrophic
injury cases involving brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, burn injuries, and more.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.